Johnson had admitted a further count of engaging in sexual activity, but was cleared of another count of sexual activity with a child.

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The NSPCC is now calling on the Government to urgently change the law, to allow police to intervene at an earlier stage.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “You would think it would be illegal for an adult to send sexually explicit messages to a child. But the frightening fact is that it is not.

“This kind of message would be an offence if they were sent in Scotland, but in England and Wales police are still powerless to intervene because anti-sexting laws created two years ago have yet to be enacted.

“The Government’s delay in outlawing this kind of grooming is a disgrace. Justice Secretary Liz Truss must act with urgency to fix this flaw in the law and stop abuse before it starts.”

Former England player Johnson, 29, was playing for Sunderland when he committed the crimes.

His first appeal against the conviction and sentence handed down last March was rejected last summer.

Posting on Twitter last month when his new appeal date was set, Johnson’s sister Faye, who has supported the convicted sex offender throughout, said: “Pleased that we now have a date for Adam’s appeal against conviction and sentence. I hope that justice can finally be done for my brother.”